Collapsible reel



COLLA? S IBLE RE EL Filed Dgo. 51, 1936 'INVNTR v CHARLES H. vosE ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, l194() COLLAPSIBLE REEL Charles H. Vose, Collingswood, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of `Delaware Application December 31, 1936, serial No. 113,491j

2 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to improvements in reels and more particularly to that form of reel known as a collapsible reel.

It will be appreciated that while the form of reel hereinafter disclosed has been designed primarily for the purposes of kuse with so-called facsimile or photoradio receivers, its use is widely adaptable to other forms of apparatus in which a collapsible reel is necessaryIr and desirable.

Facsimile or photoradio receivers comprise a number of different forms, and the reel herein to be described is suitable for use primarily with the so-called carbon recorder type of receiver as disclosed in United States Reissue Patent #20,152 15 granted on October 27, 1936, to C. J. Young. Reference to this patent will show :that a sheet reproducing material, which in that case is paper, is passed betweena carbon sheet roll and a rotating drum on which'is mounted a helix or spiral. The rotating recording drum rotates in synchronism with a transmitting device. EX- ternally to, and adjacent to, the carbon sheet is mounted a striker or presser bar whose function is to follow impulses generated at the transmitter and to press the carbon paper in accordance therewith against the recording sheet and spiral.

The pressure on the carbon paper leaves a smudge or deposit of elementary size upon the recording sheet where it contacts tangentially with the revolving spiral. It is necessary that the carbon paper be passed either at the same speed as the recording paper, or some multiple or sub-multiple thereof in order that a desirable and faithful reproduction may be obtained.

The carbon paper is pulled under the striker bar at the aforementioned speeds by means of a revolving reel on which it is wound. The reel is then removed from the carbon roll and the carbon paper may be revitalized or discarded, as de- 40 sired. However, it is necessari7 both for the purposes of driving the carbon paper and windingit accurately, to provide a reel, and in order to remove the reel easily from the carbon it is necessary to provide onewhich is collapsible.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a collapsible reel which will perform the above described functions.

The ready adaptation of portable receivers to both lighter than air craft and heavier than air 50 craft makes it necessary to assemble parts which are compact, eiiicient and which naturally may not be discarded due to the necessary economy of space and expense involved. Accordingly, it is another object of my invention to provide areel which is compact, efficient andreadily removable from the wound material, once it hasv been wound von the reel. t

The fact that a `collapsible and readily removable reel is necessary and desirable for usewith this form of device naturally necessitates the pro- 5 Vision of a reel which will be not only easy to remove from the material after it has been wound, but also easy to re-assemble for the purposes of re-winding lthereon a fresh roll of carbon. The reel must not only be easyto reassemble but it must be of such nature that the material may be easily engaged with the reel `when the winding is vinitiated and, therefore, it is another object of my invention to provide a reel which will meet these requirements. Y

As has been hereinbefore stated, the carbon roll which deposits the marks or smudges of elemental area is fed past the striker bar to the receiver at a speed which is a multiple or a sub-multiple of the speed in which the material on which the smudges will be recorded is driven in'order to provide a clear and distinguishable reproduction. It naturally follows then that the reel must be driven in some fashion which bears a definite relationship to the paper speed. This may be done by means of gears and, therefore, it is necessary that the` reel not only be collapsible and easily assembled, but must be adapted to be positivelyv driven by the driving devices of the machine Without slippage. Therefore, it'is another object 30 of my invention to provide a reel which when assembled is easily engageable with the driving apparatus of the receiver in a positive and a nonslipping fashion.

Thel reel which is hereinafter described is formed in general of two end clamp members which engage and hold into place two semi-cylindrical shell members, the latter twoy members providing the surface on which the material is wound. The two semi-cylindrical members'are 40 maintained adjacent each other in such fashion that the hollowed out portions of the semi-cylinders face each other, and thus their periphery forms a cylindrical surfaceon which the material may be wound. These twosemi-cylindrical s urfaces are spaced apart accurately by an internal. arrangement which acts not only as a spacer but as a key for a rod which joins'the two end clamp members together. AThe object of spacing these semi-cylinders apart from each other by a small A amount is to provide an opening. through which the carbon paper or other material, as the vcase may be, may be passed and bent back in order -to form a fastening when the reeling or winding is'. initiated, and primarily inL order` to enable the `vmi and ready collapse of the semi-cylindrical members. The rod member which joins the two clamps together is formed as a hexagonal nut at its outer end, and this nut acts not only to hold the rod in positive engagement with one` of the end clamp members but also acts as a readily accessible driving surface which may be joined to the driving apparatus of the machine as for instance by tting into a hexagonal socket in order to wind the material at a speed which bears a definite relationship to the recording paper speed in the machine.

The semi-cylindrical shell-like members iit at their ends into a circular slot on one face of each of the clamp members. Naturally, if the clamp members are rotated in order to engage the screw thread on the rod which joins them, then at the time when the shell-like members are very nearly tight, there will ordinarily be a tendency on the part of the edge of these members to freeze in the slot in the clamps.

The embodiments of my invention shown herein' obviate this diiiculty and, accordingly, it is another of the objects of my invention to provide a reel of this nature in which the shell or semicylindrical members will not freeze against the end clamps.

Such a reel as has been hereinbefore referred to is, of course, highly desirable for this particular type of machine, but it becomes even more desirable to so construct such a device as to make it capable of being manufactured in few operations and in operations of as simple a mechanical nature as possible. Accordingly, it is another object of my invention to provide a highly efficient collapsible reel which may be manufactured with a minimum number of operations and, accordingly, at minimum expense.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows one of the shell members;

Fig. 2 is'a rod for joining the clamp members; Fig. 3 shows one of the end clamp members; Fig, 4 shows the other clamp member and tightening device;

Fig. 5 is an alternative arrangement of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an assembly view partially cut away for clarity.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View showing the rod and one of the clamping members unitarily constructed. V

Referring to the drawings and first to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the winding surface of the reel is formed by the co-operation of two semicylindrical members of which one, Ill, is shown here. Punched by means of; a die, for instance, and folded back into the internal section of the ,semi-cylinder are two members i I. On the other shell member which co-operates with the one shown to form the winding surface is a similar set of members slightly displaced with respect to those on the shell with which it co-operates so that when the opposing shell member is brought into co-operative relationship with the one shown in the gure, the apertured rectangu- Vlar members ll will form therewith a keyway which may be used not only to prevent their rotation with respect to each other but to also allow collapsibility of the device. For the purposes of clarity, there has been shown in this figure by a dotted line showing the position of one of the co-operating internal members I2 on the opposing shell 'memben It will be noted that in the View shown, these keyway members `Vend clamp d.

have been punched from a position very near the extreme edges of the shell and folded back inwardlytowards the center. It will be appreciated, however, that if it is desired to have a wide spacing between these two keyway members in order to pass the sheet material through the spacing slot formed between the two semicylindrical shells then these members should be formed by punching the shell nearer to its center and folding or bending the keyway member back towards the extreme edge (see Fig. 6).

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown the rod member 2E! which is used to join the two end clamps which hold the shell members rigidly. It will be noted that the rod has a rectangular cross-section extending to a point near its threaded end. The rod is adapted to pass through one of the end clamps thence through the rectangular apertures in the keyway members H, and is adapted to come into engagement with an apertured member (see Fig. 4) which is screw threaded to receive the end of the rod. Thus, it will be seen that not only does the rod join the two end clamps together but, by being passed through the apertured keyway, and fitting intimately therein, it prevents the shells from rotating with respect to each other. The rod member has a hexagonal head 2l, and this head may serve a twofold purpose'. In the rst place, it serves to keep the rod from passing entirely through the clamp member, that is to say, it is the surface which engages a clamp to hold the clamp into place. However, later reference to one of the clamp members (see Fig. 3) with which the rod is adapted to co-operate will show that the clamp is recessed in a cylindrical fashion for a depth corresponding at least to the thickness of the hexagonal head.

In the preamble to the specification the desirability of driving the take-up reel at a speed which is a multiple or a sub-multiple of the recording material speed has been pointed out. Accordingly, vthe hexagonal head 2l on the rod member 20 forms a ready coupling surface between driving means of the machine and 'the reel. For instance, the driving means might be a shaft whose end is formed with a well known hexagonal socket or, of course, the alternative arrangement of providing the recessed portion of the clamp of Fig. 3 as a non-cylindrical recess, and driving from a similar shaped drive member will of course be obvious or in other words alternating the male and female driving and driven members. Y

Referring to Fig. 3,` there is shown one of the end clamps 3G. This end clamp in general is formed of a member shaped vas a combination of a solid cylinder and frusto-conical section. In the face of the frusto-conical section is a recess 3! which is somewhat greater in radius than the size o the hexagonal head of the retaining rod 20 and the continuation of the recessed portion is an aperture 32 through which the retaining rod passes. On the surface of the jsolid cylinder opposite to that of the recess 3l is a slot 33. This slot should be of a comparatively small depth and its width is great enough to embrace the extreme edges of the shell members. Thus, it will be seen vthat the two shell members may be fitted into the slot and accurately spaced apart. Y

Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown the other The clamping portion of this end clamp is ingeneral shaped as arecessed solid cylinder tapered out from the recess in the yform of a frusto-conical section. The frusto-conical section is very useful here because it forms a bearing surface for the clamp when it is first assembled but not tightened. In the recessed portion of the solid cylinder, there is formed an effective slot 4| somewhat similar to that shown in the end clamp of Fig. 3. Before the clamp is tightened, the edge of the shell member l rests on the taper of the frusto-conical section and as the clamp is tightened, the outer edge of the shell is forced gradually upwardly until it is engaged in the slot 4 It will be noted that the clamp itself is apertured, and cooperating therewith in intimate relationship is a tightening member 42. The member 42 is, in general, formed of twoI solid cylinders joined by a frusto-conical surface and the edge of one of the solid cylinders is flanged at 43. The smaller of the solid cylinders is apertured and screw-threaded, and the cylinder passes through the aperture in the clamp member 46 where it ends in the fiange 43 which prevents it from slipping out of the aperture.

Tne outer surface of the member 42 is knurled. The advantage of tightening the clamp by means of a cooperating member rather than by screwthreading the clamp itself and rotating it is obvious. If the clamp member 4| were screwthreaded and rotated, then the outer edge of the shell member would gradually raise up the tapered surface of the clamp until it should be in positive engagement with the slot 4|. However, when the clamps was very nearly tight, the outer edge of the shell l0 would tend to frictionally prevent the rotation of the clamp and the more the clamp was rotated, the more freezing would be caused between the outer edge of the shell and the clamp itself. Accordingly, it will be seen from my arrangement that the slot 4| does not revolve with respect to the outer edge of the shells and, hence, freezing action of this nature is obviated.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is shown an alternative arrangement of the clamp member of Fig. 3. Instead 0f having a separate rod with a hexagonal head and a recessed and apertured clamp, it

'is possible to form the rod and clamp of one member as is shown in this figure. In this figure the head of the member to be driven which in Figure 2 has been identified as 2| is indicated herein as 2|. Similarly, the clamp member has been identified as 30'.

Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown `a partial assembly of the reel. For the purpose of clarity and simplicity, the clamp member 4D has been omitted from the drawing and a portion of the semi-cylindrical shells has been broken away to show the internal arrangement. It will be seen from this drawing that the two shells fitting into the slot 33 are spaced apart by a slight amount and, accordingly, there is a slot 50 between their outer edges. The carbon paper or other material may be passed through this slot and through the slot on the opposite side and bent back in order to assure its being held in place when the winding is initiated. The cooperation of the key members and I2 is clearly shown. The position of the rod 20 with respect to the clamps and the keys is shown and it will be appreciated that what has been provided is a readily manufacturable, easily operable, and highly efficient collapsible reel. It will be appreciated, of course, that if it is found undesirable to have openings I3 in the surface of the shell members, then the keyway formed in the members might be manufactured separately and fastened into place by well known means as, for instance, welding. The keyway formed in the members have in this view been formed in exact contra-distinction to their position, as shown in Fig. 1, that is .to say they are bent downwardly and backwardly toward the outer edge of the shell instead of downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the shell as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown the actual clamp and rod arrangement of Figs. 2 and 3 which has been used in practice. 'Ihe recess 5| in the clamp member is formed in the shape of a regular hexagon rather than as cylindrical in form, vas shown in Fig. 3, and forms the driven coupling means with the machine drive. The groove into which the extreme edges of the semicylindrical members is adapted to fit is positioned t at the extremity of a tapered surface 52 of frustoconical form in front of the clamp. In this figure the clamp member which corresponds in action to the clamp member 30 of Figure 6 has been identified as 3G, and the slot thereon has been identified as 33, and the rod member affixed thereto has been identified as 2D". These elements are similar in use to the member 30 with its appurtenant slot 33 and the member 20 of Figure 6.

Reference to Fig. 4 will show that the tapered surface of the other clamp is exactly similar. Therefore, when the knurled end member 42 is rotated, then the semi-cylindrical members will be forced upwardlyalong the tapered surfaces in a substantially parallel relationship until both members are locked in the groove of the clamps. Hence, when the clamp is loosened, the members will collapse evenly and are readily removable from the material which is wound thereon from either side. In actual practice also, a-nut 53 is arranged at one extremity of the screw threads on the rod 20, and this keeps the rod from slipping out from the keyWay formed by the members II, IZ. Therefore, to remove the reel from the material which is wound thereon it is necessary only to remove the clamp shown in Fig. 4, and upon collapse o-f the members the other end clamp and the two semi-cylindrical members are moved in assembled form.

In general, it will be seen that all that is necessary to do to assemble the reel is to place' the edges of the two shell members on the tapered surfaces on the end clamps, pass the rod 20 through the clamp 3|),'thence through the key members and I2, and thence to the clamp 4U. Rotation of the knurled member 42 then tightens the clamp to any desired extent. When the rod rod is loosened, the two members collapse together and are thus readily removable from any material which might be wound thereon.

The drawing contained herein is not made to scale and has been drawn only for the purpose of showing the inventive concept thereof.

While the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form it, of course, is apparent that many and various modifications may be made. I, therefore, consider myself entitled to make and use all of the modifications which fall fairly within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible reel comprising a pair of semicylindrical shell members, means cut and bent from the `semi-cylindrical surface of each of said shell members cooperating with similar means on the other shell member for forming a keyway, an apertured clamp member having a slot on one of its faces of such conguration as to embrace the extreme edge of said shell members said clamp member having a re-entrant section of such configuration as to be adaptable for positive driving means, a second apertured clamp member comprising a solid cylinder joined to a frustoconical section, said second apertured member having a slotted portion immediately adjacent said frusto-conical section of such configuration as to embrace the extreme edge of shell members, a threadedly apertured member in controlling relationship to said second clamp member and rotatably mounted with respect thereto, and a partially threaded rod member passing through the rst of said clamps thence through the key- Way and intimately engaged with said rotatable control member.

2. A collapsible reel comprising a pair of semicylindrical shell-like members, a rst clamp member, a pair of keyWay members formed from the peripheral surface in each of said shell members, said keyway members on each of said shell members being adapted to co-operate With the similar keyway members on the other of the shell members, a rod threaded at least on a portion of its surface adapted to pass through said clamp and said keyway members, a member adapted to coact With the threaded section of said rod member, ysaid latter member including a frusto-concal section leading into a cylindrical section, the latter being abutted by a flange, an apertured second clamp member comprising a frusto-conical section surrounded by an overlapping cylindrical section, said latter clamp member being positioned so that the apertured section thereof embraces the cylindrical section and the frusto-conical section thereof abuts the lange of the member adapted to `co-act with the threaded portion of the rod member whereby the displacement of the clamp member is limited between the flange section and the frusto-,conical section of the member adapted to co-act with said threaded section.

CHARLES H. VOSE. 

